Skip to content
BOAT OF THE YEAR
Newsletters
Subscribe
Sailboats
Sailboats
Sailboat Reviews
Catamarans
Boating Safety
Sailing Totem
Charter
Charter
Charter Resources
Destinations
People
People
Galley Recipes
Living Aboard
Sail Green
How To
How To
Seamanship
Navigation
Sails and Rigging
Safety
Maintenance
Gear
Gear
Contact Us
Boat of the Year
Sailboats
Charter
Destinations
How To
Gear
Newsletters
Menu
Boat of the Year
Sailboats
Charter
Destinations
How To
Gear
Newsletters
SUBSCRIBE
SUBSCRIBE
Advertisement
How To
When the Stick Comes Down
When their Valiant 40 is dismasted in the South Pacific, the crew has to scramble to jury-rig a substitute spar. Photos by Rebecca Childress.
Read the complete story by Patrick Childress here
.
By
Cruising World Staff
Updated: August 25, 2011
childress1.jpg
When a chainplate broke on
Brick House
, a Valiant 40, a common cruising nightmare suddenly became all too real.
Rebecca Childress
childress2.jpg
Now the crew had to save the sails. Patrick Childress jumped in to cut the genoa halyard free.
Rebecca Childress
childress3.jpg
Once_ Brick House_ was safely anchored at Tabiteuea, the job of securing the mast and fashioning the jury rig could really begin.
Rebecca Childress
childress4.jpg
After sending a messenger line over the mast stump, rope stays could then be secured.
Rebecca Childress
childress5.jpg
Patrick climbed the stump and removed the radar reflector and the wire stays.
Rebecca Childress
childress6.jpg
Using blocks and tackle, we secured an upper shroud to the adjacent chainplates.
Rebecca Childress
childress7.jpg
The culprit was a thoroughly corroded chain-plate.
Rebecca Childress
childress8.jpg
Motorsailing with the mast tip still scraping the water made the 225-mile run to Tarawa challenging.
Rebecca Childress
More:
How To
,
keelboat
,
safety
,
seamanship
,
valiant
Advertisement
More
How To
How To Prioritize Your Sailboat’s Spring Checklist
How to Protect Your Spars from Corrosion
Sailing Totem Refit Series: The Forward Head Makeover
Fatty Goodlander: Dealing with Chafe While Cruising
Advertisement
Read More
How To Prioritize Your Sailboat’s Spring Checklist
TradeWinds Debuts 59-foot TWe6 Smart Electric Yacht
Good Bread for Good Health
Center of Effort